April 15 - Ruth 1:1-18
April 15 - Ruth 1:1-18
1 In the
days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man
of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his
wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was
Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were
Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They
went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But
Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two
sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the
one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten
years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that
the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she
arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had
heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had
visited his people and given them food. 7 So
she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and
they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But
Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's
house. May the Lord deal
kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may
find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them,
and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And
they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But
Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons
in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn
back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I
should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should
bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they
were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it
is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against
me.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept
again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 And she
said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her
gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth
said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where
you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be
my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I
will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death
parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she
was determined to go with her, she said no more.
What a
beautiful story of love and friendship. What a blessing Ruth is to her
mother-in-law. She is willing to leave her coun try and accompany Naomi into
another land, leaving all she knows behind. “For
where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people
shall be my people, and your God my God.” Such love! I was so blessed to be given a
truly wonderful mother-in-law. Thanks be to God!
May you find such a
relationship with your mother-in-law or daughter-in-law, as the case may be.
May you bless one another in true love for one another.
Heavenly Father, I have to
admit although I love all of Your word, I am so glad to be in the book of Ruth
where there is good news to read about.
What love Ruth had for her mother-in-law and how loyal she was to her as
well. It is often that you find such love and loyalty outside of family relationships,
but I believe the bond of being a child of God should be stronger than that of
family. God’s family is forever and our earthly
family is temporary. I thank You, Father
for the many relationships You have given me through the bond of Your love and
Your Son. Help me be loyal and loving to
Your followers, as I would my own family.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen!
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